In celebration of Walt Disney World’s 45th Anniversary, the WDW Radio Blog Team members are sharing their Walt Disney World “love stories” about the moment they became lifelong fans.

This week we’re celebrating the 45th anniversary of the vacation kingdom of the world, Walt Disney World. As the Disney community remembers our fondest attractions, moments, and memories, as a WDW Radio team we’re reflecting on how the Disney magic first sparked for us.

I grew up on Disney, but the real magic for me began when I was 11 years old. Toward the end of our trip, I lost my autograph book. That’s devastating, right? You stand in hours worth of lines for those treasured signatures. Then, of course, there are the moments attached to those names that made them extra special.

Upon returning home, my grandmother called Disney to see if the book had been turned in to the lost and found. It hadn’t. We figured that was that, and honestly forgot about the situation. Well, low and behold, a few weeks later, a package arrives in the mail for me. No one in my family knew this was going to happen. This was not planned or set up. Inside the package, there was a letter that I have on my desk to this day. It read:

Dear Blake,

Heard you lost your autograph book last time you were here. I’ve asked my pals to help get you started on a new one and we can’t wait to see you again real soon!

Your pal,

Mickey Mouse

Are you kidding me? Mickey Mouse wrote me a letter?! As if that wasn’t already the coolest moment my 11-year-old self had ever lived, beneath the letter was, as promised, a new autograph book… filled cover to cover with personalized signatures from Mickey and all of his pals. And I do mean ALL of his pals.

There were your more common Disney characters, with my name included making it extra special.

Then you had the more rare characters that you don’t see too often in the parks. Pretty cool!

And then you had the ones you didn’t even know existed in the parks. Woah!! Cloud nine.

To this day I don’t know which Pete this is. My initial thought was that it was Peg Leg Pete, Mickey’s nemesis in the classic cartoons. However, my current theory is that it was probably Pete from Pete’s Dragon, as I’ve never, ever heard of Peg Leg Pete being in the parks. Even though Pete from Pete’s Dragon is seldom (if ever) having a formal character greeting, we know he at least exists as a character in Main Street Electrical Parade.

Lastly, the cream of the crop was this, the final page of the book. Years before she ever was a meetable character in the parks, I had the honor of having Tinker Bell’s autograph, sprinkled with Pixie Dust.

This story was the most Disney magic I had ever experienced and have experienced since. On the surface level, from any way you slice it, this was just plain cool. My hero sent me a letter. Mickey Mouse mailed me a package! As I grew older, I of course came to understand the real magic behind this story was the little extra effort made by someone who will never get any recognition, all to make an eleven-year-old boy smile. What I love most about this experience is that, at this stage, there was nothing financial to gain from my family by sending this autograph book to me. We had left Disney property weeks before this package arrived. Our vacation was 100% over. The book was still sent. The effort was still made, which you can bet your Dole Whip made a lasting impression on us and made us want to come back. (And, inevitably, here I am sharing the story with you twelve years later.) That package sparked something in me that inspired my imagination now and inspires my work ethic today as a Cast Member. It was that intention to go beyond what was expected and create happiness for my family.

What’s your Disney story? We’d love for you to share with us in the comments as we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the place that has created happiness for millions of people around the globe.

(Images belong to author’s personal collection.)

Blake graduated Appalachian State University studying Electronic Media Production/Broadcasting and Film. He is currently a participant of the Disney College Program. Blake’s favorite attraction is the hub grass. You can find him on Twitter @blake_242 or at BlakeOnline.com.

]]>http://www.wdwradio.com/2016/10/how-losing-an-autograph-book-made-me-a-lifelong-disney-fan/feed/648314Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting: Epcot World Showcase Autograph Frame Mathttp://www.wdwradio.com/2012/09/practically-perfect-disney-crafting-epcot-world-showcase-autograph-frame-mat/
http://www.wdwradio.com/2012/09/practically-perfect-disney-crafting-epcot-world-showcase-autograph-frame-mat/#commentsThu, 20 Sep 2012 12:50:47 +0000http://www.wdwradio.com/?p=20219by Fran Cassano Hi Everyone! I recently came back from a fantastic cruise on the Disney Magic to the Canadian Maritimes. I saw some moms drop off pillowcases and photo […]

Hi Everyone! I recently came back from a fantastic cruise on the Disney Magic to the Canadian Maritimes. I saw some moms drop off pillowcases and photo mats, along with Ziplocs of multi-colored Sharpies, at Guest Services for Character autographs. This reminded me of a craft I did on our last trip to Walt Disney World.

A friend told me that she got a photo mat autographed by Kidcot station Cast Members at all the countries in the World Showcase at Epcot. It reminded me of the old Epcot Passports you did the same thing with, and immediately loved it. I thought that creating a mat like this would be such a unique reminder of our wedding, which was at the Germany Pavilion and Italy Isola earlier this year.

For my project, I chose the photo first, which is a black and white photo from our wedding. So, I chose a black photo mat and a silver gel pen. I wanted to go more dainty for this particular look. I also only wanted “hello” signatures from the Pavilions that had meaning to our wedding and the activities surrounding it.

When I went around to the Kidcot stations, I could not believe how eager all the Cast Members were to sign our photo mat. They asked a lot of questions about our wedding because we got married at Epcot. Then, they all wrote well wishes in their language. Aside from our engagement and wedding, getting these signatures was one of my favorite Epcot memories of all time.

For your own Epcot Showcase Autograph Frame Mat, use your Michaels/Jo-Ann/A.C. Moore coupons for the photo mats and pen(s). And as always, feel free to do a variation that fits your own theme.

Will you go with white and color pens, color and a black or white pen, or will you go with black and a silver pen? Will you use a PhotoPass photo for yours? Maybe you’ll collect Epcot autographs on a 9″ Vinylmation instead, for a one-of-a-kind piece.

Enjoy your day and craft away!

Craft Time: The time it takes to go around Epcot’s World Showcase and stopping for signatures (and food and drink).

Fran’s Tips:

~For traveling, keep photo mat in plastic (in case of rain or smudging) and place in a compartment where it will be flat or on its side. I kept mine in a laptop/tablet case pocket.

~ I had no problem riding rides with my photo mat because of the bag I had with me.

Like so many of us, Fran Cassano’s life is sprinkled with Mickeys. From collecting Park brochures as a child, to creating ideas for her own Disney Fairy Tale Wedding, paper crafts have kept the magic of Disney a part of her everyday life. Fran invites us capture our own memories through Practically Perfect DISNEY Crafting… Break out the tools that have been gathering dust. And let’s figure out how, together!